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Submitter's Information
Dr. Al Taccone
Dean, Career Education
San Diego/Imperial
MiraCosta College
CTE Dean
Dr. Al Taccone
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Program Details
Research and Development (Biotechnology)
Program Modifications (formerly substantial changes)
Biotechnology and Biomedical Technology (043000)
08/02/21
Associate degree is designed to meet the increasing need for entry-level laboratory technicians, especially in the field of research and development.Technicians in this field must be proficient in the application of scientific methodology to solve problems. They must learn and implement laboratory procedures and use specialized laboratory equipment. Competency in organizational, computational, and communication skills is required. This program is designed to give students the theoretical background and practical experience necessary to be a bench-level scientist in both academic and industrial settings. Completion of this program prepares students to gain entry-level employment, or with additional coursework students can transfer to four-year institutions in the bio-sciences. Graduates of this biotechnology program can expect to be employed in various capacities, including quality control, applied research, product development, analytical testing, and academic (basic) research.
This modified A.S degree in research and development will support students seeking to complete their two-year education for a high-wage, in-demand industry. In recent years, the biotechnology program at MiraCosta has nearly doubled in size from 368 enrollments in 2015-2016 to 673 enrollments in 2018-2019.
As noted in Item 4, there is also a large gap of about 1,100 between employment demand for middle skills workers(1,233 openings per year) and the supply from regional colleges (61 graduates annually) in San Diego County. This supports the adequate demand for the program. The reports referenced above are included in the Supporting Documentation.
Program Proposal Attributes
- A.S. Degree (S)
The associate in science (AS) degree in research and development is aligned with MiraCosta’s mission as a career and technical education program and as an effort to support the economic and educational well-being of the communities served. This modified research and development degree explicitly builds upon the College’s existing biotechnology certificates. The modified AS degree allows students who complete this local associate degree to obtain entry-level employment in laboratories at local companies and research institutions.
The modified research and development program will serve the needs of the growing biotechnology economic sector in San Diego County. There will be significant growth in biotechnology positions in coming years, and MiraCosta College’s AS degree is well-positioned to serve this need.
The MiraCosta Community College Educational Plan 2016-2020 (addendum to the college’s Comprehensive Master Plan 2011-2020) contains 14 institutional objectives that describe strategies for achieving the College’s five institutional goals. The modified degree program in research and development is aligned with Institutional Goal I, as an innovative practice that will broaden access to higher education for students, Institutional Goal II, as an institution that maximizes student success, and Institutional Goal V, as a conscientious community partner in serving to provide students with the needed skills to participate in the growing biotechnology sector.
The modified associate in science degree program will prepare students for careers a laboratory technician/assistant/associate, process development technician/associate, and quality control technician/associate/analyst. The modification adds coursework options in advanced skills, such as CRISPR gene editing, and curriculum exploring the impact of biotechnology and workforce skills needed for this growing industry. These modifications were proposed after discussions with the advisory board and local companies during individual site visits. Upon completion of this program, student swill be able to successfully perform a technical laboratory task common to the technical laboratory environment by employing the appropriate equipment and tools, safely and effectively.
Course Units and Hours
n/a
35-37
61-63
Course Report
Also included in the attached narrative.
| Requirements | Dept. Name/# | Name | Units | CSU-GE | IGETC | Sequence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Required Core (12 units) | BTEC107 BTEC110 (110H) BTEC120 BTEC210 | Exploring Biotechnology: Emerging Trends, Careers, and the Local Industry Basic Techniques in Biotechnology Business and Regulatory Practices in Biotechnology Data Analysis with Excel | 3 5 3 1 | E NA NA NA | NA NA NA NA | Yr 1, Fall Yr 1, Spring Yr 2, Fall Yr 1, Spring |
| One course (3-4 units) | BIO204 (204H) BIO105 | Foundations of Biology: Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Biology Genes and Technology in Society | 4 3 | B2 B2 | 5B 5B | Yr 1, Fall Yr 1, Fall |
| One course (4-5 units) | BTEC180 (180H) MATH150 (150H) | Biostatistics Calculus and Analytic Geometry I | 4 5 | B4 B4 | 2A 2A | Yr 1, Spring Yr 1, Spring |
| Two courses (10 units) | CHEM150(150H) CHEM151(151H) | General Chemistry (Honors) General Chemistry (Honors) | 5 5 | B1 B1 | 5A 5A | Yr 2, Fall Yr 2, Spring |
| Required electives (2 units) | BTEC201 BTEC203 BTEC204 BTEC206 BTEC207 BTEC231 BTEC292 BTEC299 | Advanced Cell Culture Techniques in DNA Amplification Recombinant DNA Principles of Separation and HPLC Techniques in Immunochemistry and ELISA Gene Editing Techniques: CRISPER-Cas9 Internship Studies Occupational Cooperative Work Experience | 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 | NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA | NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA | Yr 2, Spring Yr 2, Fall Yr 2, Spring Yr 2, Spring Yr 2, Fall Yr 2, Fall Yr 2, Spring |
| One course (4 units) | ENGL100 (100H) | Composition and Reading | 4 | A2 | 1A | Yr 1, Fall |
Required Major Total 35-37 units
Completion of IGETC 40units
TOTAL UNITS 61-63 units
(Possible double counting of major and GE units)
ProposedSequence:
Year 1, Fall = 13-14units
Year 1, Spring = 15-16units
Year 2, Fall = 17units
Year 2, Spring = 16units
TOTAL UNITS: 61-63units
Supporting Documents
San Diego/Imperial Regional Questions
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Submission Details
03/23/21 - 03:32 PM
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Return to Drafts
Please list the reason(s) for returning "Research and Development (Biotechnology)". to Dr. Al Taccone's drafts. This message will be sent to ataccone@miracosta.edu
Comments, Documents, Voting
Comments
All Comments
Cassandra Storey · 05/13/21
SDCCE supports program mod
Jesse Lopez · 05/13/21
San Diego Miramar agrees with the COE's recommendation and supports the program modification.
Tina Recalde · 05/13/21
San Diego Mesa supports the program modification.
Nichol Roe · 05/12/21
Palomar supports this modification
Rose LaMuraglia · 05/11/21
City Supports
Dr. Javier Ayala · 05/05/21
Grossmont supports.
Larry McLemore · 05/03/21
Cuyamaca supports
Tina Ngo Bartel · 05/03/21
MiraCosta College submitted the appropriate LMI from the COE. The COE recommends proceeding with developing a new program or a program modification because 1) the occupations’ entry-level and median earnings are above the living wage and 2) a supply gap exists. The region should also note that employers typically require a bachelor’s degree as the minimum educational requirement for these occupations.